What the heck is the Dorothy Syndrome and what does it have to do with mid-life crisis? Well, it has everything to do with MLC! The Dorothy Syndrome is a phrase that I coined and is the premise for my upcoming book titled "The Dorothy Syndrome: Mid-life on the Yellow Brick Road". While coaching at another web site forum, I started using the metaphors used in one of my favorite stories and movies..."The Wizard of OZ". I was astonished at how easily I could use the dialog from the movie or premise of the story to describe the transitions, emotions, the typical experiences that occur during an MLC, whether it be for the woman or the man. »more»

According to the researchers at Gallup, almost half of Americans describe themselves as "thriving" (that is few health or money worries), another 47% say they are "struggling" (mostly reporting money issues), and about 4% report themselves as "suffering" through life. The results were based on a 70 question well-being survey of more than 100,000 people. »more»

According to a comprehensive study of data from 80 countries, researchers at Britain's Warwick University and America's Dartmouth College have confirmed what people in their forties have known for years, middle age is indeed truly miserable. Researchers discovered that "for both men and women the probability of depression peaks around 44 years of age. »more»

The topic "Happiness" is of critical importance for people in middle age and thus a focus of LifeTwo. If you are not proactive about being happy then you run the risk of one day hitting a wall and being angry at everyone and everything in the world that you deem is blocking your joy. »more»

According to at least one author the past four decades the concepts of Empowerment and Entitlement have produced "the most coddled generation in American history". Steve Salerno is the author of "SHAM: How the Self Help Movement Made America Helpless" and »more»

Most of us like to think that a mutually agreed upon divorce or simple job lay off is not shameful. But something in our culture and deep within our own psyche begs to differ. I found my own divorce to feel quite shameful. What I say now is that any divorce, no matter how mutally desired, traumatizes the people involved and feels like a failure on some level. »more»

While the exact numbers are in debate, it is generally accepted that over the past 50 years depression rates in the United States have risen dramatically. Several large epidemiological and family studies have suggested increases in the rates of depression for all ages. »more»

A provocative study on aging and emotional stability was published last summer in the Journal of Neuroscience and reported in the Los Angeles Times. In short it found that healthy, older people "are less bothered by things and are more in control of their reactions to fear." »more»

Feeling lonely is never fun. However when it happens in middle age it can take a very bad toll on one's health. In the August issue of Current Directions in Psychological Science, two University of Chicago psychologists report their findings that loneliness leads to very negative physiological affects on middle age bodies. »more»

"Happier" is the latest book by Harvard professor Tal Ben-Shahar, who teaches the most highly attended course at the university--Positive Psychology. The book distills those lessons into a form that you -- with time and effort -- can use. »more»